the althetic: pels are #1 in rookie scale rankings

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1. Zion Williamson, F/C | 19 years old | Four years, $44.3 million; last two years team options
2019-20 stats: 19 games, 23.6 points, 6.8 rebounds, 2.2 assists, 58.9/46.2/64.5

2. Brandon Ingram, F | 22 years old | One year, $7.3 million, restricted free agent (will get max)
2019-20 stats: 24.3 points, 6.3 rebounds, 4.3 assists, 1.0 steals, 46.6/38.7/85.8

3. Lonzo Ball, G | 22 years old | Two years, $9.7 million
2019-20 stats: 12.4 points, 6.2 rebounds, 7.0 assists, 1.4 steals, 41.2/38.3/56.7

4. Jaxson Hayes, C | 20 years old | Four years, $22.1 million, last two years team options
2019-20 stats: 7.5 points, 4.0 rebounds, 0.9 blocks, 17 minutes per game, 66.0/25.0/63.0

5. Josh Hart, W | 25 years old | Two years, $5.4 million
2019-20 stats: 10.2 points, 6.5 rebounds, 1.2 assists, 1.0 steals, 41.6/34.2/74.7

6. Nickeil Alexander-Walker, G | 21 years old | Four years, $14.3 million, last two years team options
2019-20 stats: 5.1 points, 2.0 rebounds, 1.8 assists, 33.9/34.2/60.7

7. Kenrich Williams, F | 25 years old | One year, $1.4 million, restricted free agent
2019-20 stats: 3.8 points, 5.1 rebounds, 1.5 assists, 34.3/26.0/37.5

8. Didi Louzada, W | 20 years old | Draft rights retained; stashed in NBL
2019-20 NBL stats: 9.9 points, 3.5 rebounds, 1.6 assists, 39.9/33.1/67.6

9. Frank Jackson, G | 22 years old | One year, $1.6 million, restricted free agent
2019-20 stats: 5.6 points, 1.4 rebounds, 38.5/32.5/75.0

10. Zylan Cheatham, F | 24 years old | Two way contract
2019-20 G League stats: 16.3 points, 11.9 rebounds, 2.5 assists, 53.0/33.3/74.0

11. Josh Gray, G | 26 years old | Two way contract
2019-20 G League stats: 22.5 points, 5.3 rebounds, 6.9 assists, 2.2 steals, 45.0/33.8/77.6

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Griffin acquired the No. 2, No. 3 and No. 5 players on the list below directly in the trade with the Lakers, then moved the No. 4 pick he acquired to deal for the No. 4, No. 6 and No. 8 players below – all of whom I project to turn into good role players or even starters. There is a long way to go, but I wouldn’t be surprised if the Pelicans won an NBA title between 2023 and 2030, and that is in large part due to the work Griffin did after being hired last year.

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NBA top 5
-pels
-celtics
-grizzlies
-hawks
-mavericks